Autistic: Beyond the Label

If your autistic child has meltdowns, displays unusualbehaviours, and scores low on psychometric tests, is it reasonable to hope that he or she can have a bright future? What about success in post- secondary education or a chance at a satisfying career? In thisepisode of Autistic: Beyond the Label, I will explore these questions with Theresa, a dental hygienist from Ontario, Canada who is the mom...

This full length episode follows from the October 26 previewepisode titled Higashida’s Alphabet Grid. In this review of Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8, advocate Beth McBarnett joins me, Dr. Dana Colarusso, in a methodical consideration of this work as both a unique portrait of one man's experience of autism in his own words (published pre-AI, no less!), and a starlit sky of guidance for understand...

Cathy Vey is a Canadian Occupational Therapist registered with the ⁠College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.⁠ She isa member of the ⁠Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists⁠ . Cathy has over 20 years of experience providing occupational therapy services for infants, children, and adolescents with a wide range of needs and abilities. She has also worked with other groups such as Veterans....

Scary tales with autistic heroines? In this review of The Framed Women of Ardemore House Dr. Dana Colarusso explores relatively new literary phenomenon of the autistic heroine. In this case, the female protagonist Jo Jones is victim, suspect, and investigator, all three. Yet as an autistic character she lends a new perspective on the roles neurodivergent individuals can play in both life and art....

The Alphabet Grid is a key to understanding Naoki Higashida's sequel to The Reason I Jump, titled Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8. In this introduction to the upcoming review of his sequel, guest Beth McBarnett helps us describe the importance of the alphabet grid for appreciating the significance of Higashida's work. As David Mitchell explains in his introduction to the sequel, unlocking commu...

Have you ever wondered what is going on inside the minds of autistic kids? Is there a way we can find clues to the reasons behind their actions? More and more, autism researchers are turning to the first hand accounts of autistic children themselves. Two early harbingers of this trend are Daniel Safanski's How to Talk to An Autistic Kid and Naoki Hagoshida's The Reason I Jump. Taking a sid...

What is music therapy? Can it help kids with autism? In this episode, I interview Roxanne Christian, an international board certified music therapist, who shares her journey into music therapy and the profound impact it can have on emotional well-being, particularly for children on the autism spectrum. Roxanne discusses the applications and modalities of music therapy, its tailored approach to ind...

In this episode, we will look at changes in how the mediaportray atypical characters and their helper guides in books, films and tvshows. Among some famous neurodivergent characters, like Sheldon Cooper, in BigBang Theory, there is no mention of a diagnosis. Nevertheless, there is anunmistakeable pattern of traits and behaviours consistent with Asperger’s. Thecomedy we find in modern day character...

Welcome to Part 2 of my interview with Dr. Temple Grandin. Based initially on a discussion of her recent book Autism and Adolescence, in this second half of our conversation, we discuss issues that branch across many of her works, including Visual Thinking, The Loving Push, and The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships. Along the way we explore questions such as overcoming barriers to communicat...

Book review with host Dana Colarusso and guest narrator Beth McBarnett. In this book review episode, we will explore the 7 Keys to Unlock Autism by Elaine Hall and Diane Isaacs. We start by looking at the story behind the story, how the authors' experience in media arts and shared experience raising autistic children led to The Miracle Project and Autism: the Musical. We then consider how pare...

In this conversation, Dr. Grandin tells us about her unique journey as an autistic person who has made significant contributions to both the cattle industry and autism advocacy. She emphasizes the importance of teaching life skills to teens on the spectrum, and shares insights on social skills, communication challenges, mental health, and the significance of personal interests in career developmen...

In this episode of Autistic Beyond the Label, host Dana Colarusso shares her personal journey through autism literature, discussing key insights from various books that have shaped her understanding of autism. She emphasizes the importance of communication, sensory processing, and the unique experiences of autistic individuals. The episode features reviews of 'More Than Words' and 'To...

Beth McBarnett, Ambassador at Grandview Kids and a parent support worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, describes her journey from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to life after an Autism Diagnosis for her son. Keywords: autism, parenting, support, diagnosis, family, resilience, community, milestones, patience, advocacy Summary: In this conversation, Beth McBarnett shares her journey as a mot...

Keywords: autism, empathy, learning community, support, diagnosis, parenting, resources, understanding, awareness, transformation Summary: In this introductory episode of 'Autistic Beyond the Label', Dana Colarusso shares her insights and experiences as a parent of an autistic child and a teacher. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in navigating the complexities of...